Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
A rare public dispute has emerged between US President Donald Trump and Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, once among his most devoted allies.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, who represents Georgia in the House of Representatives, has long been one of Trump’s fiercest defenders.
But in recent weeks, she has taken independent stances, criticizing both the administration’s foreign policy and the Republican leadership.
On Monday, Greene wrote on social media that Trump was meeting transitional Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa — “a former al-Qaeda terrorist,” she claimed — and argued that the president should instead focus on domestic priorities.
“I would like to see constant meetings at the White House on domestic policy, not foreign policy and leaders of foreign countries,” she posted.
Her remarks drew notice because most Republicans have avoided publicly questioning Trump, fearing political backlash.
Greene herself has insisted that she still supports the president, even as she speaks out more frequently.
“Serving the opposing camp”
Questioned about Greene’s comments in the Oval Office, Trump told reporters he was aware of them.
“I don’t know what happened to Marjorie,” he said. “She’s a lovely woman, but I think she got lost.” He went further, accusing her of “serving soup for the opposing camp,” referring to Democrats.
Trump defended his meetings with foreign leaders, saying that US global engagement was necessary. “It’s easy to say, ‘Oh, we don’t have to deal with the world,’ but the world is our first customer,” he explained.
The president said he was “surprised” by Greene’s criticism and stressed that addressing international issues was part of his responsibility.
He acknowledged that al-Sharaa had “a difficult past” as a former al-Qaeda commander but argued that diplomacy sometimes required dialogue with controversial figures.
“I have to look at the presidency as a global situation, not a local one,” Trump said. “We could have a world on fire where wars come to us very easily.”
Dividing the right
Greene, a prominent figure of the Republican Party’s far-right wing, has often made headlines for her inflammatory rhetoric and endorsement of conspiracy theories.
In recent months, she has publicly diverged from Trump’s positions on several issues.
She described the Gaza war as “genocide” and praised Democratic former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her “incredible career.”
“I would love for our party to get results the same way Nancy Pelosi got results for her party,” she said — comments that sharply contrast with Trump’s description of Pelosi as “evil.”
Greene also criticized Trump’s trade policies, calling his tariffs “blunt,” and said businesses struggled to adapt.
She disputed the administration’s claims that inflation is under control and urged Republicans to propose a clearer plan for tackling health care costs.
A political shift
Speaking on ABC’s The View, Greene said it was “embarrassing” that the Republican-controlled House had failed to meet during the government shutdown.
The remarks came as the GOP suffered setbacks in local elections, which many voters linked to persistent inflation — an issue central to Trump’s second-term campaign promises.
Greene has further called for the Trump administration to release all documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a case Trump has dismissed as a “hoax” pushed by Democrats.
The matter has caused discomfort inside the White House, given Trump’s past social ties to Epstein.
“I’m not some sort of blind slave to the president, and I don’t think anyone should be,” Greene told NBC News last month.
Looking beyond MAGA
Once a fixture on pro-Trump podcasts, Greene has recently appeared on mainstream outlets such as ABC and CNN, calling for dialogue to address everyday economic concerns.
According to AFP, her tone and visibility have fueled speculation in US media about potential presidential ambitions.
Analysts note that Greene’s message — shifting from Trump’s “America First” to her own slogan, “America Only” — signals a desire to redefine the nationalist movement she helped champion.
Sources: Reuters, BBC, AFP, AP, Ziare, NBC News, ABC News
This article is made and published by Jens Asbjørn Bogen, who may have used AI in the preparation
